Semi with $146,000 in cargo stolen

Marion County Sheriff's Office Forensic Crime Scene Technician M. Alvarez processing the tractor that sheriff's detectives said was stolen by two men early Saturday morning November 24, 2012. The men, Ruben Fuentes and Alexander Vidal were captured by deputies and K-9 Thor.

Published: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 6:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 6:47 p.m.

BELLEVIEW — Two men accused of stealing approximately $146,000 worth of cargo from a trailer were apprehended by Marion County sheriff's deputies and K-9 Thor early Saturday morning, according to officials.

At 3:31 a.m., Detective Erik Dice was alerted that a trailer containing thousands of dollars worth of unidentified goods left in a trailer by deputies in the back of a Pilot Truck Stop at 4032 NW County Road 326, was being moved after someone attached a semi to the trailer.

Monitoring its movement, the detective said the semi and its cargo were heading south on Interstate 75. A communication center was alerted, which in turn called deputies for assistance.

Deputy Steven Jacob observed the 1994 Freightliner semitrailer on Southwest County Road 484 after it had exited I-75.

The deputy initiated a traffic stop when the heavy-duty vehicle turned into the Pilot Truck Stop at 2020 SW CR 484.

Jacob said it appears the driver of the tractor trailer accelerated into the commercial parking area of the truck stop in an attempt to flee.

Passing a parked truck, the tractor suddenly stopped, and two men were seen exiting the vehicle through the passenger door and fled into the truck stop.

The deputy, who by this time was assisted by other deputies, gave chase and captured suspect Ruben Fuentes, 39.

A second suspect, 26-year-old Alexander Vidal, continued to run and was caught by K-9 Thor and his handler, Douglas Watts, in the Hampton Inn parking lot.

Authorities said the tractor — owned by Recoloa USA Inc. based in Ocala — was reported stolen from 3150 SW Seventh Street. The last time anyone saw the vehicle was at around 4:15 p.m. on Friday.

Dice contacted the owner of the tractor, who told him nobody should be in the vehicle.

Officials believe the stolen tractor was driven to the first Pilot Truck Stop where the trailer was, and hooked up to the trailer.

Fuentes was taken to the Sheriff's Office, where he was interviewed by Dice. There, Fuentes denied taking the vehicle and said he ran because he was scared, authorities said.

Fuentes was charged with cargo theft, grand theft, fleeing and eluding and resisting without violence. Vidal was charged with cargo theft, grand theft and resisting without violence.

As of Saturday night, Vidal remained at Munroe Regional Medical Center for a bite wound inflicted by the K-9 during the chase.

The owner of Recoloa USA Inc. declined comment to a Star-Banner reporter.

At the jail, Fuentes, whose English is limited, said in an interview with a Star-Banner reporter that neither he nor Vidal took the tractor or the trailer.

Fuentes said he and Vidal originally are from Cuba and they live in Miami. He said he has known Vidal for five years.

Fuentes said he and Vidal drove to Ocala late Friday night so they could seek employment. He said they were going to stay in Ocala until a friend, known to both of them, could pick them up and take them back to Miami. That friend, he said, was in Georgia.

<p>BELLEVIEW — Two men accused of stealing approximately $146,000 worth of cargo from a trailer were apprehended by Marion County sheriff's deputies and K-9 Thor early Saturday morning, according to officials.</p><p>At 3:31 a.m., Detective Erik Dice was alerted that a trailer containing thousands of dollars worth of unidentified goods left in a trailer by deputies in the back of a Pilot Truck Stop at 4032 NW County Road 326, was being moved after someone attached a semi to the trailer.</p><p>Monitoring its movement, the detective said the semi and its cargo were heading south on Interstate 75. A communication center was alerted, which in turn called deputies for assistance.</p><p>Deputy Steven Jacob observed the 1994 Freightliner semitrailer on Southwest County Road 484 after it had exited I-75.</p><p>The deputy initiated a traffic stop when the heavy-duty vehicle turned into the Pilot Truck Stop at 2020 SW CR 484.</p><p>Jacob said it appears the driver of the tractor trailer accelerated into the commercial parking area of the truck stop in an attempt to flee.</p><p>Passing a parked truck, the tractor suddenly stopped, and two men were seen exiting the vehicle through the passenger door and fled into the truck stop.</p><p>The deputy, who by this time was assisted by other deputies, gave chase and captured suspect Ruben Fuentes, 39.</p><p>A second suspect, 26-year-old Alexander Vidal, continued to run and was caught by K-9 Thor and his handler, Douglas Watts, in the Hampton Inn parking lot.</p><p>Authorities said the tractor — owned by Recoloa USA Inc. based in Ocala — was reported stolen from 3150 SW Seventh Street. The last time anyone saw the vehicle was at around 4:15 p.m. on Friday.</p><p>Dice contacted the owner of the tractor, who told him nobody should be in the vehicle.</p><p>Officials believe the stolen tractor was driven to the first Pilot Truck Stop where the trailer was, and hooked up to the trailer.</p><p>Fuentes was taken to the Sheriff's Office, where he was interviewed by Dice. There, Fuentes denied taking the vehicle and said he ran because he was scared, authorities said.</p><p>Fuentes was charged with cargo theft, grand theft, fleeing and eluding and resisting without violence. Vidal was charged with cargo theft, grand theft and resisting without violence.</p><p>As of Saturday night, Vidal remained at Munroe Regional Medical Center for a bite wound inflicted by the K-9 during the chase.</p><p>The owner of Recoloa USA Inc. declined comment to a Star-Banner reporter.</p><p>At the jail, Fuentes, whose English is limited, said in an interview with a Star-Banner reporter that neither he nor Vidal took the tractor or the trailer.</p><p>Fuentes said he and Vidal originally are from Cuba and they live in Miami. He said he has known Vidal for five years.</p><p>Fuentes said he and Vidal drove to Ocala late Friday night so they could seek employment. He said they were going to stay in Ocala until a friend, known to both of them, could pick them up and take them back to Miami. That friend, he said, was in Georgia.</p>